Gear, gear and more gear. Winter calls for the constant beacon, shovel, probe check-list as we walk out the door and toward the mountains–but, are we missing something in our backcountry kit?

The Insulated Thermos.

Yes, bringing food and water with you is key on any adventure but that's not why we think that everyone should carry a thermos with them this winter.

We hope that you don't, but if you get yourself in a situation where you have to spend the night in the backcountry this winter you will want to:

Build a fire to stay warm,

Melt snow for drinking water.

Fire seems pretty easy (that is if your emergency kit includes fire starters, matches or a lighter), but how are you going to melt water in your Nalgene? Mmm, melty plastic.

Insulated thermos' like the Klean Kanteen or Hydroflask are metal and in an emergency situation you could fill it with snow, place it in, or by the fire and boom, you have water. Not to mention that it is a warm treat if you bring it full of soup on your ski tour. Yay, soup.

So, this winter (and every winter from here on out) we think you should be including a thermos in your backcountry kit, don't you agree?